Toothpick-holdeb



ernten,

STEPHEN G. SIN'GLETON, OF BURKE, IDAHO.

TOOTHPICK-HOLDER.

' Application filed March 26, 1919.

Holders, of which the following is a speci- 4 fication.

My invention relates generally to tooth pick holders, andY more particularly to a tooth pick holding and dispensing device, the principal object 'of my invention being the provision of a tooth pick container which will keep the tooth picks in a perfectly sanitary condition, free from dust, insects, and the like, and also from contamination during the extraction of one or more of the picks foruse.

Another object oi' my invention is the provision of a device that Will be simple in construction, easy to operate, and 'economical of manufacture, as Well as one which will hold the tooth 'picks in convenient position for extraction by the fingers, Without necessitating the touching of any of the tooth picks except the one selected for withdrawal.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a tooth pick container which will be especially useful in public eating places, such as restaurants, hotels, cafs, and the like, where a large number of people use tooth picks, and one which Will ob- "viate fingering of the main supply of picks in the selection of a single pick, as in the case of open tooth pick containing, jars or dishes commonly employed at present, A Generally speaking, my invention proposes a tooth pick container in the nature of a shaker, from which, by shaking movementof the container, tooth picks are partially discharged, in such a manner that individual vpicks are projected a portion of their length beyond the limits of the container in order that they may be grasped and fully extracted individually by the fin- Orers.

h ln the accompanying drawing illustrating my present invention and forming a part of the specification,

Figure 1 is a perspective vievv of my impartial discharge of individual tooth picks for removalby the fingers,

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the tooth pick shaker,

specification of tet-ters Patent.

proved tooth pick shaker, illustrating the- 1yfattn'ited July 29, TLS-i9,

semi No. 285,304.

jFig. 3'is an end-view looking at thedischarge cap, and i Fig. 4 is a, face view of the discharge con.- trolling member removed.

- Referring no\v to these figures, my invention proposes a tooth pick holder including` a cylindrical container l0, which is closed at one end Il, and which is preferably of a diameter adapted to receive and retain.

a quantity of tootli picks in upright position, that is, With their longitudinal axes parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container 10. This container 10 is preferably .threaded as at 12, adjacent to its open end,

' The flange 15 of the cap 16, which is threaded at 14: at one edge, is provided with an annular groove internally thereof, adjacent to and around the edge of the cap 16, this groove being indicated at 18 in Fig. 2 and providing for the reception of a discharge controlling disk 19, formed of some flexible elastic material, preferably rubber, l'

which is disposed against the inner face ot the cap 16 'as shown in Fig. 2, and properly associated with the cap, and which is provided with radial slits 2O which aline with the slotted opening 17 of the cap 'although they are of considerably reduced area as l compared to the slotted openings the purpose of the slits being to admit of but partial movement of the icks therethrough.

Toot/li 'picks are usual-y reduced at their` ends, and their reduced ends may Vpass through the slits 20ct the controlling* disk 19, by sha-king the container'l()v in the di-vv .rection of its length, so as to producen. par'- tial discharge of individual .toothpickslas seen in Fig. l at 21. In thistway, the tooth picks are individually moved to positions permitting them to be readily graspedjand individually Withdrawn without danger of- `contamination of -the remaining' tooth picks of the supply Within the container l0, it be ing 'obvious that the 'tooth picks will be yieldingly grasped and held by the discharge It is further obvious that by virtue of the discharge controlling member 19 with its controlling disk 19 for the above. purpose. y t

compmativsiy minnie slits oiiio discharges of the tooth picksw float, iiisojas, and oho mattez wiii no @Achmed iom iii@ iiioiioi of the container so shot the moin suppii/ tooth picks cmi bo ioaii'ibaine in ssiimry condizion ai', :iii timos. L

it is of course to oo 'umisfszood that iio cap 1.6 Wiii he formed of metal oi' somo oomparoiveiv iniioibio ma''miai so 25h21.@ ik@ flexible elastic disonairg-w` coiis'oiiing; dis-.a i9 within 'che cap wiii be @Effectively piotsotod at nii times.

i. i tooh piok hofim in bhe mmm@ of a shaker, consist-ing of a Casing Tom/ing a, @over at one ond provided with openings n'iitting of passage of the tooth picks thor@M through, md moans in oonneo'eion with said Cover to yioidingly hold the tooth picks in position paitiaiiy-iii1'oiigh the @over openings during the discharge of ibo tooth picks, saio. iosa, named moans consist-ing of an oper @iisii of im oiostio Historial supported she imfioi sux'faco of the cover and promoted 'by the laminar.

2k A 'i'.ooh pick holder in the nature of shake? oonsisting of a casing having aA sover at one ond provided with openings admitof passage of the tooth picks thoi'ehifougii', and a ioxibls disk. within the' ons ingq adjacent zo tho said cover, having openings of zrsduced area with respect to tho openings of the @over and Mined with the iotto', isha openings of the iexibie disk being of n wiciii loss than the grea'est diaim-omi" of the tooth picks within the casing.

STEPi-EI G. SNGLETON.

Witnesses:

JAY USTENDER, ERNEST M. WILLIAMS. 

